Distributing-panel block



1 conducting current.

Patented Mar. 3, 1931 BERT F. FULLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,ASSIG1\TQZ.w

MANUFACTURING C535 DISTBIB'il-TIEG- Appficetien -ed A l 1.33,

My invention relates to distributing-panel blocks and particularly toinsulating blocks supporting fuse receptacles, bus bars and terminalsused in distribu ing panels.

An object of my invention is to provide fuse blocl: wherein thethreaded. fuse receptacles are secured thereto by an eyelet rivetthrough which a fastening screw err-ends for connecting the receptacleterminal to a bus bar on the opposite side of the block and wherein theeyelet rivet engages the bus bar and serves as a conductor forconducting cur rent from the bar to the receptacle terminal, thusrelieving the screw of the function of It has been found that, where thescrew alone is used as a conductor, the contact between the screw andthe bus bar is uncertain and its conductivity mate rially reduced byreason of corrosion or oxidation of the threaded joint between the busbar and the screw.

A further object of my invention is to provide a distributing-panelblock having the above noted characteristics wherein the eyelet rivetserves to permanently attach the fuse so base.

receptacle to the block.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to attach the fuse receptacle tothe block by means of the screw which secured the bus bar to the In suchinstances, the receptacle was assembled on the block at the time ofinstalla tion thereof in the housing for the panel. This arrangement wasfound to be very inconvenient.

l-lnother object of my invention is to provide a distributing-panelblock that may be assembled, and mounted as a unit, and which iseflective in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects, that will be made apparent throughout thefurther description of my invention, are attained by means of theapparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a distributingpanel bloclr embodyingfeatures of my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the block taken on the line II IIof Fig. 1.

To WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & error? or PENNSYLVANIA sauna nr-oox SerialNo. 183,131.

receive fuse receptacles. A longitudinally extending recess 5 isprovided in the under surface of the block for receiving the bus bar 6.A hole 7 extends from each recess 4 to the recess 5.

Notclies 8 are provided at the ends of the block 3 for receivingterminal members 11, and passages 9 connect the recesses 4 with theadjacent notches 8. Projections 10, and the holes 7 are providedforcentering the receptacle terminal member 11 which engage the threadedfuse receptacles 12, thus insulating them from contact terminal membersto be hereinafter described.

"ring to Fig. 2, each of the fuse receptacles comprises a threadedcylindrical shell having an annular flange 13 surrounding the projection10 for conductively engaging the terminal member 11 which extendsthrough the passage 9 and is provided with a terminal screw 1& forattaching a load conductor. The outer diameter of the enlarged inner endof the terminal member 11 is approximately equal to the inner diameterof theshell 12, thus ensuring the proper centerin g of the terminalmemberll.

The shells 12 and the terminal members 11 are secured within therecesses 4 by hollow eyelet rivets 15 that are inserted through theholes 7 and are insulated from the terminal members 11 by insulatingwashers'16. The hollow eyelet rivets 15 provide openings through whichattaching screws 17 may be inserted for securing the bus bars 6 inelectrical contact with the eyelet rivets 15 and constitute shuntconductors in addition to the screws 17. When assembling the receptacleshells 12 upon the block 3 the terminal members 11 are placed over theflanges 13 of the shells and the insulating washers 16 are placed overthe terminal members. The rivets 15 are then inserted and the ends whichproject into the recess 5 are then peened over, as indicated in Fig. 2,thus permanently attaching the shells to the block.

Heretofore, fuse receptacles have been constructed in such manner thatonly a screw corresponding to the screw 17 was depended upon forsecuring the terminal member 11 and shell 12, Within the recess 4 andfor securing the bus bar 6, as well as for conducting current from thebus bar 6 to the fuse recep tacle 12. This combination was veryinconvenient to assemble because of the fact that the screw shell 12,terminal member 11, and insulating washer 16 could not be fastenedwithin the recess 4 until the entire panel unit 3 was assembled and thescrew 17 was inserted, for connection to the bus bar 6 and otherconductors. It was also objectionable to depend entirely upon a screwfor conducting the current, as the area of contact between the screwthreads and the bus bar may be very small because of inaccurate threadiV 7 or may be conslderably reduced by corrosion and dirt. The holloweyelet 15 employed in my invention overcomes the foregoing difficultiesby permanently securing the screw shell 12 and terminal member 11 withinthe recess 4 and by providing a relatively large area for makingelectrical contact .with the bus bar 6.

\Vhile I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges, modifications, additions and omissions may be made in theapparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended. claim.

I claim as my invention:

An insulating base having a recess for receiving a fuse receptacleand aprojection in the bottom of the recess and having, also, a

a hole extending through it and the pr0jec tion, a screw receptaclehaving an opening in the bottom to receive the projection and an openingin the side, a terminal member for insertion through the side openingand having an opening corresponding to the bottom opening for receivingthe'insulating projection, a hollow rivet extending'through the hole inthe base and the opening in the receptacle, a terminal member forretaining said members in operative position, and an insulating washerfor insulating the rivet from the terminal member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this sixth dayof April,

- BERT F. FULLER.

